Your iPhone can do more. Discover shortcuts and act more effectively!

Do you sometimes waste time performing repetitive tasks on the iPhone or Mac? Looking for a good playlist, sending messages about how much you will be at home, or looking for the nearest cafe in Nowe Miasto – sounds familiar? Apple Shortcuts, i.e. an application for automating activities is a solution you need!

Apple Shortcuts – How do shortcuts make life easier?

Shortcuts is not new – the application, once known as Workflow, debuted in 2018 and has gained a number of fans since then. Apple has developed this tool for years, integrating it, among others with Apple Intelligence and Smart Home gadgets. You don’t have to be a programmer to use it – just a bit of commitment and a desire to experiment. In this article, we will tell you how to start, we will show some practical examples of shortcuts with instructions on how to create them, and tell you where to look for inspiration to program further automation.

What are shortcuts and how do they work?

Shortcuts are sets of instructions that perform specific actions on your device. You can create them from scratch or use ready -made, available at the Shortcuts gallery or online. The application works on a “if that, that” – a bit like simplified programming. For example: if you connect the headphones, the XYZ playlist will turn on. In 2024, Apple improved the application interface, adding more ready templates and making it easier to edit shortcuts, especially for beginners. So there is something to work with.

How to start?

The Shortcuts application is pre -installed on iOS from version 13 up and MacOS from Monterey up. After starting it, start by entering the “Gallery” tab, where you will find ready -made shortcuts. Inspirations can also be found on the RoutineHub or R/Shortcuts website at Reddit. Creating shortcuts requires trials and errors, but the new creator in iOS 18 suggests what to do and makes it easier to start.

Why use shortcuts?

Shortcuts are simply saving time and greater convenience of using electronics that accompanies us every day. Instead of manually performing the same activities, you can automate everything – from sending messages, through file management, to a smart home. In 2024, shortcuts related to Apple Music and Action Button on iPhones gained popularity. People are also happy to use location -based automation such as switching on a quiet mode in the office. Below you will find ten practical shortcuts with instructions on how to make them.

Practical examples of Apple shortcuts

Here are ten practical shortcuts that will make your life easier, along with instructions on how to create it. All tested on iOS 18 and MacOS sequoia in 2025.

Notify which one you’ll be at home

This abbreviation calculates the access time to the house and sends a message with an estimated hour to the selected person.

Creation instructions:

1. Open the Shortcuts application and click “+” in the upper right corner.
2. Add the “Get Current Location” campaign (download current location).
3. Add the “Get Travel Time” campaign (Download travel time). Choose “Driving” and enter the home address as a destination point.
4. Add the “Calculate” campaign (Calculate). Set “Current Date + Travel Time” – it will give an hour of arrival.
5. Add “text” (text) campaign. Enter, for example, “I will be at home about (Calculate Result)”.
6. Add the “Send Message” campaign (send a message). Choose contact and paste the text from the previous step.
7. Name the abbreviation “notification about returning home” and save.

How to use? Run the shortcut application, via Siri (here it is worth calling an abbreviation in English so that Siri knows what’s going on) or assign it to Action Button. It also works as automation (e.g. always after you leave the workplace).

Find the nearest cafe

The abbreviation shows the nearest cafes in Apple Maps based on your location.

Creation instructions:

1. At Shortcuts, click “+” and add “Get Current Location”.
2. Add the “Find Places” campaign (find places). In the “Query” field, enter “Coffee Shop” and set the search radius, e.g. 5 km.
3. Add the “Show in Maps” campaign (show in maps). Choose the results from “Find Places”.
4. Name, for example, “Coffee Finder” and save.

How to use? Run the shortcut and Maps will open a list of cafes. You can change the “Coffee Shop” to gas stations (“Gas Station”) or “Pizza” to look for other places.

Random playlist on the call

The abbreviation chooses random songs from your Apple Music library and turns on playback.

Creation instructions:

1. Click “+” in Shortcuts.
2. Add the “Get Playlist” campaign (download playlist). Choose your favorite playlist or “All Songs”.
3. Add the “Get Songs From Playlist” campaign and set “Random Order” and a limit, e.g. 10 songs.
4. Add the “Play Music” campaign (put the music). Choose the results from the previous step.
5. Name the abbreviation (eg “Music Randomizer”) and save.

How to use? Run from the application, Siri or assign to Action Button. It’s an ideal solution, e.g. for a car.

The focus mode for a specified time

The abbreviation includes the “do not disturb” mode for the selected time, e.g. 1 hour.

Creation instructions:

1. Click “+” in Shortcuts.
2. Add the “Set Focus” campaign (set the focus mode). Choose “To Not Disturb” and “Turn on”.
3. Add the “Wait” campaign (wait). Enter the time in seconds, e.g. 3600 for 1 hour.
4. Add another “Set Focus” campaign and set “to Not Disturb” to “Turn Off”.
5. Name the abbreviation “Focus Timer” and save.

How to use? Start to turn on the quiet mode for a specified time. You can add a question about time (“Ask for Input”).

Save the article to notes

The abbreviation saves the content of the website to notes.

Creation instructions:

1. Click “+” in Shortcuts.
2. Add the “Get content of Web Page” campaign (download the contents of the page). Set “Safari” as a source.
3. Add the “Extract Text” campaign (extract the text) to download only the text of the article.
4. Add the “Create Note” campaign (create a note). Paste the text from the previous step.
5. Name the abbreviation and save.

How to use? Run from the Safari sharing menu. The text of the article will sign up in notes.

Personalized battery saving mode

The abbreviation includes energy saving mode, turns off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and reduces the brightness of the screen.

Creation instructions:

1. Click “+” in Shortcuts.
2. Add the “Set Low Power Mode” campaign (set energy saving mode). Set “Turn on”.
3. Add the “Set Wi-Fi” campaign and set “Turn off”.
4. Add the “Set Bluetooth” campaign and set “Turn off”.
5. Add the “Set Brightness” campaign (Set clarity). Set, for example, 20%.
6. Name the abbreviation and save.

How to use? Start when the battery begins to rain. You can add automation so that the shortcut turns on itself at 20% of the battery.

Set of action for the morning start -up

The shortcut turns on the morning playlist, shows the weather and opens the calendar.

Creation instructions:

1. Click “+” in Shortcuts.
2. Add the “Get Weather Forecast” campaign (download weather forecast). Set “Current Location”.
3. Add the “Show Result” campaign (show the result) and select the forecast.
4. Add the “Play Music” campaign (put the music). Choose a morning playlist.
5. Add the “Open APP” campaign (Open the application). Choose “Calendar”.
6. Name the abbreviation (eg “Morning Routine”) and save.

How to use? Run in the morning or set as automation for a specific time.

Apple Shortcuts is a Swiss penknife for Apple devices. In 2024 and 2025 they gained by virtue thanks to Apple Intelligence and Nowa Siri, although it was not without mishaps. From sending ETA, through the draw of music, to home control – shortcuts save time and simplify life. Start with the gallery, create your own and join the community. Try, and in a week you will not imagine life without them.